3 syllables: in, ter, rupts. Stress on rupts.
/ˌɪntɚˈʌpts/
Say it backInterrupts is the verb form meaning to stop a speaker or process briefly, or to break in on a conversation or event. In plural noun form, interrupts can refer to multiple interruptions. The word combines the prefix inter- with the verb interrupt, signaling a stopping action that occurs within ongoing activity.
- You may over-pronounce the first syllable: avoid making /ɪ/ into a full vowel; keep it quick as /ɪ/ or /ɪn/ with a light /tə/ following. - The middle /t/ can be over-articulated; practice light /t/ release before /ɹ/. - The final /pts/ cluster can be merged into a single sound in fast speech; practice a crisp /pts/ without inserting an extra vowel. - Don’t vocalize the /r/ too strongly in non-rhotic accents; in US you want a clear /ɹ/, in UK keep it consonant but not a vowel-like /ɹ/. - Ensure you don’t add extra syllables; avoid an extra vowel between /ˈrʌpts/ and surrounding words.
"The moderator interrupts the presenter to ask for questions."
"Frequent network interrupts can disrupt your video call."
"Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock at the door."
Pronunciation: /ˌɪn.təˈrʌpts/ (US/UK/AU). The primary stress falls on the second syllable ‘-rupt-’, with the final /s/ as a voiceless /s/. Begin with a light schwa in the first syllable, then a unstressed ‘ter’ reduced to /tə/. The vowel in ‘rupt’ is /ʌ/. Tip: keep the /t/ light (or a quick tap in rapid speech) before /r/, and avoid a heavy pause before the /ɹ/. Practice with: in-ter-RUPTS. Audio resources: try Cambridge or Oxford pronunciations for confirmation.
Common mistakes include: 1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable (in-TU-ripts) or spreading stress too evenly; 2) Mispronouncing the middle /t/ as a hard /d/ or not releasing it (silencing the /t/ leads to in-te-rupts). Correction: maintain the primary stress on the second syllable /təˈrʌpts/, lightly release the /t/ before /ɹ/ and keep /ɹ/ crisp. 3) Vowel quality in /ɪ/ in the first syllable can tilt toward /i/; aim for a quick, unstressed /ɪ/ as in 'in' and a clear /ə/ in /tə/.
In US, the sequence is /ˌɪn.təˈrʌpts/, with a rhotic /r/ in the stressed syllable and clear /ɹ/. UK often reduces the first syllable more, and the /t/ can be flapped or lightly released in rapid speech, giving a slightly softer /t/. Australian tends to align with UK vowel quality but with a slightly more centralized /ə/ in /tə/. All maintain the /ˈrʌpts/ final cluster; the main variation is vowel reduction and rhoticity (US rhotic, UK non-rhotic, AU semi-rhotic).“ ,
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /tɹ/ after the schwa and the final /pts/ cluster. Timing and breath control are critical: you must release /t/ quickly into /ɹ/, then cluster with /ʌ/ followed by /pts/, without inserting a vowel. The /ɹ/ in American English can be challenging for non-native speakers who are not used to a strong, retroflex or bunched /ɹ/. Pay attention to linking and the quick, glottal or light-tap release in fast speech.
There is no silent letter; the word is fully pronounced with three stressed syllables only the primary stress is on the second syllable: in-ter-RUPTS. The second syllable carries the strongest emphasis, which may be especially prominent when interrupting a speaker; you’ll hear extra emphasis on /ˈrʌpts/ in careful speech. The final /s/ is a normal voiceless sibilant; ensure your teeth-light contact to avoid an excessive hiss.
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- US: Maintain rhotic /ɹ/; ensure the /r/ has a strong but not rolled quality. The /t/ should be released into /ɹ/ with a quick touch, not a heavy swell. - UK: The /r/ is often non-rhotic; you may hear a weak /ə/ after /n/ and the /t/ not strongly aspirated. Focus on a clean /t/ followed by a soft /ɹ/ or a vowel if connecting to a following word. - AU: Similar to UK with slight rhotic tendency; focus on a smoother /ə/ for /tə/ and a crisp /ɹ/ where applicable. - IPA references: US /ˌɪn.təˈrʌpts/, UK /ˌɪn.təˈrʌpts/, AU /ˌɪn.təˈrʌpts/.
Interrupts derives from the Latin inter- meaning 'between' and rumpere meaning 'to break, to burst'. The English verb interrupt first appeared in the late 15th century, retaining the notion of breaking into a discourse or action. By the 1600s, interruption expanded to describe interruptions in processes or communications, evolving to include mechanical and electrical contexts (interrupt signals in circuits, interrupts in programming). The plural form interrupts follows standard English pluralization, marking multiple instances or the plural noun usage. The word’s core sense—causing a halt or break within a sequence—has remained stable, though modern usage spans conversations, events, and technical systems. The phrase “to interrupt” likewise yields related forms (interrupting, interrupted, interruption), reflecting a shared Latin root throughout Romance languages and preserving the semantic core across centuries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "interrupts" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "interrupts"
-cts sounds
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